Jobless rates in Crook, Jefferson and Deschutes counties rose slightly in August from July levels, according to an Oregon Employment Department report released Monday. But all three counties have experienced lower year-over-year unemployment rates.
Crook County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained the highest in the state during August at 14.3 percent, an increase of 0.2 percentage points from July. It was 14.7 percent in August 2011. The county added 20 jobs last month, which is slightly above average.
Deschutes County’s jobless rate was 11.4 percent in August, a 0.1 percentage point increase from July but a 1 percentage point decline from August 2011. Estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the county added 210 jobs last month, when it typically loses 260.
In Jefferson County, the 12.4 percent jobless rate in August was up from 12.2 percent the month before, but it also declined 1 percentage point from August 2011. The county lost 90 jobs last month, about 50 more than it loses on average, due to a decrease in tribal employment.
